It is possible to find true love on our campus. Just ask Emily Conroy, a recent U of I graduate who, on top of working full time and starting graduate school, is also in the process of securing her venue and picking out colors for her 2012 summer wedding.
Emily, who graduated last May, recalls meeting her fiancé Landon in one of their classes. “I made the first move in just saying hi to him and we talked about how we had so many classes together,” she says. “Our first date was getting coffee after one of our classes, where we made plans for another date at Flat Top. The rest is history!”
Students may have no problem saying hi to the attractive guy or girl sitting next to them in a large lecture. The problem is finding the right person to build a substantial relationship with. For Emily and Landon, discovering that they had similar interests is what made their relationship so strong. “We both love to travel and cook as well as just lying around and being together when we have nothing to do,” she says.
The two also love the outdoors and spontaneity, as they spent a lot of their down time between classes on the quad. It was here that the two planned to take a road trip to the east coast, traveling to Connecticut, then New York, and finally Maine – camping everywhere in between. “It was times like that, which made our relationship so strong,” Emily says.
With second semester quickly unfolding, many couples are beginning to wonder where their relationships head once summer begins. For seniors currently beginning the stressful job searching process, many face difficult decisions in relocating, moving back home, and for many, realizing that their lives as a couple could drastically change after graduation.
As seniors last year, it was during this stressful time that Emily and Landon began talking about their future together. “Getting engaged only seemed natural because of talks we had about our future desires and post graduation plans,” Emily says. “I remember one time we were in downtown Chicago and stopped by a store in Jewelers Row. We talked that day about if we felt the time was right, and could only conclude with why not?”
This “why not” attitude is what Emily suggests to other couples currently in a similar position. “Some people feel that when your young you shouldn’t tie yourself down. If you know you want the same things in your lives, know that you make each other stronger so you can work through any of life’s challenges together, and most important, your in love, then why not?” she says.
The hesitation to take a relationship to the next level right out of college may have something to do with the current trend of waiting longer to get married. According to the U.S Census Bureau, the average age to get married has increased over the past 10 years, with the average age for a female now at roughly 26 and roughly 28 for males. While many people ask how old Emily and Landon are upon hearing the big news, they have been happy to offer congratulations.
Emily says, “Both Landon and I like to think we have our ducks in a row with what we would like to do for our careers. As those who are close to us understand this, they then understand why getting married now really isn’t that young of an age